The Desperate Escape of Joseph Bowers The Desperate Escape of Joe Bowers Joseph Bowers, 210-AZ Joe Bowers, an inmate considered criminally insane by many of his fellow inmates on the Rock, would make national headlines with a desperate act that for over a half century has been called an escape by some and suicide by others. Joseph Bowers was by all accounts a desperado and loner, unable to come to terms with the conditions of Alcatraz. Imprisoned during the toughest and most strict era on Alcatraz, Bowers, serving a 25-year sentence for Postal Mail Robbery that netted a mere sixteen dollars and thirty eight cents. He held an expansive criminal record and as one report highlighted: “If at large, he probably would engage again in criminal activities and constitute a serious menace to the public safety and society.” He had claimed, and it was also supported in belief by fellow inmates that his crimes had resulted from a lacking ability to support himself. He claimed that he was completely desperate and out of funds, hungry and mostly unable to afford food or proper lodging.

In a 1933 summary report, his background was noted: “On this man it has been impossible to get any dependable information. He states that it is represented to him that he was born of parents who were members of a travelling circus on February 18, 1897, at El Paso, Texas, was immediately deserted by his parents, and was raised by circus people who were travelling about and with whom he has lost all contact, so that he has been unable to establish his birth as an American Citizen. Claims to have worked in Germany, France, Belgium, Italy, Spain, Russia, Buenos Aires, Mexico, Cuba, and other places principally as an interpreter, as he claims to speak six languages.

He came to the office complaining that he thought his sentence too severe, that he was in his present trouble due only to the fact that he had been unable to get work, and wanted to know if there was any manner in which he could establish his citizenship so that he could get pass-ports to foreign countries, as he said he never had any trouble finding steady employment, but did have some trouble because he did not have proper passports when in foreign countries.” Bowers arrived at Alcatraz on September 4, 1934, in one of the first groups, and it quickly became obvious that he didn’t fit the archetypical model of the standard Rock inmate. While imprisoned at McNeil Island, a federal penitentiary located in the Puget Sound of Washington State, he was a considered “unpredictable and at high risk resulting from being emotional unstable.” Warden Johnston later wrote: “I did not class him with the shrewd gangsters with whom he associated in prison.

He was a weak-minded man with a strong back who would get peace of mind by exercising his body.” The Rule-of-Silence was in its most strict form, and within only six months of his imprisonment, Bowers was already showing signs of significant mental strain. He attempted suicide, but the resident physician didn’t feel Bowers was making a serious attempt on his life. A memo to the director described the attempt: DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE /s/ George Hess, A.A. Surgeon Chief Medical Officer. Bowers was assigned to the incinerator detail only a month prior to his escape by flight. The incinerator detail was considered a difficult and unpopular work assignment by the general inmate population. It was hard and laborious work, sorting metals and burning the prison waste. Working alone and having to endure the cold weather elements of the San Francisco Bay, Bowers would soon break. The inmates assigned to the incinerator detail passed time slowly. Under constant watch by the Road Tower officer, Bowers could only dream of his freedom, as tour boats passed the island in close enough distance where faint laughs could be heard over a seagull screech.

On April 26, 1936, Bowers could serve no one time on Alcatraz. Some inmates called it suicide, while others were convinced he was simply trying to climb up to grab garbage wedged in the chain link fence. Another account claimed he was climbing to feed a seagull, but what is clear is Bowers ignored the forceful signals to halt. At approximately 11:20 AM, just as the signal for the inmate to return to their cells and prepare for lunch, Bowers started walking towards the industries building and then charged the fence, making his ascent. The official officer accounts where documented as follows: Bowers was only 40 years of age when he fell to the violent rifle fire of E.F. Chandler. In his testimony to a Coroner’s jury panel, Chandler stated: “Bowers was over the deadline. He knew what he was doing, and I couldn’t go get him without wings.” As many historians still debate the sanity of Bowers and whether or not his flight over the fence was a true attempt at freedom.

But as one former correctional officer pointed out to help make sense of the tragedy and determine whether or not his intent to escape was real, he stated most aptly, that regardless of what Bower’s intent was, whether to escape, feed a bird or collect garbage, when he was finally struck by a bullet, “he fell over the fence and onto the side of freedom. Where he fell says it all...” Sources: National Archives and Records Administration and the Alcatraz Archive. Joseph Bowers - 必应 Sign in Joseph Bowers Joseph "Dutch" Bowers (December 13, 1896 – April 27, 1936) was the first man to attempt an escape from Alcatraz prison. On 27 April 1936, convict Henry Larry[citation needed] claims to have watched Bowers, who was feeding seagulls, stack some empty barrels and climb up next to the fence so he could retrieve a bit of food which had fallen on the barbed wire. He stood there feeding the birds for several minutes until a tower guard turned, saw him atop the fence, and fired on the convict. Bowers fell seventy feet to his death on the rocks below.

As d ... (展开) ocumented in "The Desperate Escape of Joseph Bowers" at AlcatrazHistory.com: "Joseph Bowers was by all accounts a desperado and loner, unable to come to terms with the conditions of Alcatraz. Imprisoned during the toughest and most strict era on Alcatraz, Bowers, serving a 25-year sentence for Postal Mail Robbery that netted a mere sixteen dollars and thirty eight cents. He held an expansive criminal record and as one report highlighted: 'If at large, he probably would engage again in criminal activities and constitute a serious menace to the public safety and society.' He had claimed, and it was also supported in belief by fellow inmates that his crimes had resulted from a lacking ability to support himself.

He claimed that he was completely desperate and out of funds, hungry and mostly unable to afford food or proper lodging." The incident termed Bowers' "Desperate Escape" was variously deemed by inmates to have been an actual escape attempt, a deliberate suicide (Bowers had made multiple suicide attempts, and was deemed by some prisoners to be criminally insane), an attempt to climb up to grab garbage wedged in the chain link fence (Bowers was assigned to the garbage incinerator detail), or an attempt to climb the fence to feed a seagull. However, regardless of Bowers' initial motive, it is indisputable that Bowers ignored the guards' forceful signals to halt and he kept climbing even after the guards began firing, such that he fell on the outside of the fence. Joseph "Dutch" Bowers (December 13, 1896 – April 27, 1936) was the first man to attempt an escape from Alcatraz prison. On 27 April 1936, convict Henry Larry ... View the profiles of professionals named Joseph Bowers on LinkedIn. There are 183 professionals named Joseph Bowers, who use LinkedIn to exchange information, ideas ...

View the profiles of people named Joseph Bowers. Join Facebook to connect with Joseph Bowers and others you may know. Facebook gives people the power to... 500+ connections · Greater Atlanta View Joseph Bowers’ professional profile on LinkedIn. LinkedIn is the world's largest business network, helping professionals like Joseph Bowers discover inside ... Joseph Bowers, 210-AZ. Joe Bowers, an inmate considered criminally insane by many of his fellow inmates on the Rock, would make national headlines with a desperate ... The Deadly Business Of Trying To Escape From Alcatraz - ALLDAY The Deadly Business Of Trying To Escape From Alcatraz By Shea Huffman Photo: Justin Sullivan/Getty Images News/Getty Images On December 16, 1937, Theodore Cole and Ralph Roe attempted to escape from federal prison on Alcatraz Island in San Francisco Bay; neither was ever seen again. Theirs was not the first escape attempt from Alcatraz, and it wouldn't be the last. Officially, no inmate has ever successfully escaped from the island prison, which is surrounded by a freezing bay and strong water currents. That hasn't stopped speculation that a few of the men "never seen again" really did make it.

The First Attempt Afp/AFP/Getty Images Joseph Bowers was the first man to attempt escape from Alcatraz Prison. He made his bid for freedom on April 27, 1936, while on garbage-burning duty, by climbing a fence in an attempt to make it to the shore. He was shot by guards before he made it. Page 1 / 1 Take A Moment To Share Advertisement Out To Sea Afp/AFP/Getty Images On December 16, 1937, Theodore Cole and Ralph Roe made their attempt after slowly filing through the bars in the prison's workshop and running for the water on a foggy day. The two jumped in the water, never to be seen again. They were presumed to have been swept out of San Francisco Bay to the ocean where they drowned. Al Capone's Attacker Wikimedia Commons May 23, 1938 saw an attempted escape by Rufus Franklin, Thomas R. Limerick, and James C. Lucas. Lucas was known for assaulting fellow Alcatraz inmate Al Capone in the prison barber shop.

The trio attacked and killed a guard in the escape attempt, but Franklin and Limerick were shot by a guard upon reaching the prison roof. Lucas surrendered. Escape (Almost) From D-Block Keystone-france/Gamma-Keystone/Getty Images Arthur 'Doc' Barker, William Martin, Rufus McCain, Henri Young, and Dale Stamphill made an escape attempt on January 13, 1939 from what was supposedly the prison's most-secure unit, D-Block. After they managed to sneak out of the cell house and reach shore at nighttime, the inmates were fired upon while trying to construct a makeshift raft. Barker was killed, Stamphill was wounded, and the others were recaptured. Those Bars Aren't Just For Show Keystone-france/Gamma-Keystone/Getty Images Joe Cretzer, Sam Shockley, Arnold Kyle, and Lloyd Barkdoll were working in the prison workshop when they attacked the guards and attempted to saw through window bars to reach the shore. The bars were tool-proof however, and they soon surrendered. Cretzer and Shockley both would try to escape again.

The Bay Robyn Beck/AFP/Getty Images James Boarman, Harold Martin Brest, Floyd Garland Hamilton, and Fred John Hunter, made their attempt after overpowering and binding two guards in the prison workshop. However, one of the captive guards managed to free himself and the fleeing prisoners were fired upon in the water. Boarman was wounded, and his unconscious body sank in the bay. The others were all recaptured, although Hamilton spent two days hiding in a small cave before returning. The Battle Of Alcatraz Wikimedia Commons The Battle of Alcatraz , which lasted from May 2nd to 4th, 1946, was the result of an unsuccessful escape attempt by Clarence Carnes, Bernard Coy, Joseph Paul Cretzer, Marvin Hubbard, Sam Shockley, and Miran Edgar Thompson. The inmates made their attempt after incapacitating several guards and gaining access to the prison's store of weapons. The resulting standoff and firefight required two platoons of Marines to put an end to it. Two guards were killed along with three of the inmates and 11 guards and one convict was also injured. Miran Thompson and Sam Shockley were later executed for their roles.

Hiding In The Rocks Justin Sullivan/Getty Images News/Getty Images On July 23, 1956, Floyd Wilson went missing from his job at the prison's dock, but was discovered hiding 12 hours later between the large rocks along the island's shoreline, after he abandoned his plan to construct a raft out of driftwood. The Only Successful Escape? The Denver Post/Denver Post/Getty Images Clarence Anglin, John Anglin and Frank Morris made what is still debated to be the only successful escape from Alcatraz Prison. The prisoners chiseled away at concrete surrounding an air vent leading to an utility corridor outside their cell, using tools such as a metal spoon and an improvised electric drill. The inmates executed a complex plan including paper-mache heads left in their bunks. Another prisoner, Allen West, was part of the escape plan, but couldn't fit through the hole and was left behind. The three prisoners who made it through were able to use a makeshift raft made from other inmates' raincoats to leave the island.

Officially, the FBI believes the men drowned in the bay, but documents show a raft was discovered on Angel Island with footprints leading away, and the inmates' families claim to have received postcards over the years from them. The U.S. Marshall's Office says it will still keep the case open until the men's 100th birthdays. The Last Attempt Dave Etheridge-barnes/Getty Images News/Getty Images On December 16, 1962, John Paul Scott and Darl Parker were the last two inmates to attempt escape from Alcatraz. Scott used banjo strings and a makeshift saw to cut through the bars on a kitchen window, and stabbed and then strangled two guards outside. The two jumped into the water at the edge of the island. Parker was found sitting on the rock formation known as Little Alcatraz, but Scott managed to reach the mainland where he was found by teenagers, suffering from hypothermia. He was returned to Alcatraz after a stay in the hospital. The attempt was the only proven case of an Alcatraz inmate reaching the shore by swimming.

Advertisement Joseph 'Dutch' Bowers (Welcome To Alcatraz) Title: Joseph 'Dutch' Bowers Joseph "Dutch" Bowers - April 8, 2007 10:36 PM (GMT) Real Life Bio;Joseph "Dutch" Bowers (1896-1936) was the first man to attempt an escape from Alcatraz prison. On 27 April, 1936, Bowers finished working on the prison incinerator. Instead of going back to the prison, he headed out towards the surrounding wire fence. The guards ordered him twice to stop, he refused. They shot twice at the ground. He continued until he reached the fence, then scaled it and dropped down on the other side. The guards shot twice and hit him in the neck and his right thigh. He was propelled headfirst over the cliff and down 60 feet to the rocks. He died from a bullet lodged in his lungs. Bowers' escape attempt was the first of the island's fourteen. Current Bio; Joseph "Dutch" Bowers (1896 - 1936) - Find A Grave Memorial San Francisco County California, USA Criminal.

A native of Austria, Bowers was arrested for a post office robbery in 1931 and was sentenced to 25 years in prison. After spending some time at McNeil Island Penitentiary and later Leavenworth Federal Penitentiary, he was transferred to the newly opened Alcatraz Federal Penitentiary in 1934. Believed by many inmates to have gone insane, he attempted to commit suicide in his cell a year after his arrival. On April 27, 1936, he was assigned to work at the prison's garbage incinerator when, for unknown reasons, he suddenly began climbing a nearby fence. Prison guards, assuming that he was trying to escape, opened fire in the attempt to stop him. Bowers was hit, knocked off the fence, and fell 60 feet down the cliff behind it to his death. He is considered to be the first federal prisoner to attempt to escape from Alcatraz. (bio by: G.Photographer) Alcatraz - Escapes Joseph Bowers Post Office Robbery Perhaps this wasn't the first escape attempt from the U.S. Penitentiary.

A guard spied Bowers climbing over a fence and shot him. The question is what was Bowers doing? Prisoner accounts claim that Bowers was a "bug", a nutcase, who'd ended up in the prison for stealing $16.00 from a Marin County post office. Bowers worked down in the incinerator. He enjoyed feeding the sea gulls. Convict Henry Larry claims to have watched Bowers stack some empty barrels and climb up next to the fence so he could retrieve a bit of food which had fallen on the barbed wire. He stood there feeding the birds for several minutes until a tower guard turned, saw him atop the fence, and fired on the convict. Bowers fell seventy feet to his death. December 16, 1937 Ralph Roe Armed Robbery Alvin Karpis watched as Cole and Roe broke through two panes of glass in the mat shop, sawed through a metal sash, and popped through the resulting opening. Cole then twisted off a padlock and rushed out to the water's edge. The pair negotiated their way through a perimeter of rubber tires and submerged barbed wire.

Karpis reported that the current then picked them up and carried them off in the direction of the Golden Gate. A low fog prevented him from seeing their fate. Prison authorities mounted a massive search when the two didn't turn up for the 1:30 pm count. Prisoners clung to the hope that they'd made it. For years, newspapers reported sightings of the pair. And prisoners believed that Warden Johnston received annual postcards from South America signed "Ted and Ralph". Exceptionally high and fast tides on the day of the break, however, made their survival improbable. Authorities declared them dead. May 23, 1938 Sam R. Shockley Robbery & Kidnapping Brothers-in-law Joseph Paul Cretzer and Arnold T. Kyle led this precursor to the 1946 blast-out. Cretzer and Kyle had arranged for Cretzer's wife to show with a speed boat. After capturing the mat shop foreman, the four participants took an emery wheel to the shop's steel bars. Other officials, including the Superintendent of Industries, a captain, and a guard lieutenant interrupted their work briefly and were rewarded with capture. The emery wheel did little and the boat never showed.

The gang gave up after Captain Madigan convinced them that they could not get out. They later learned that Mrs. Cretzer had been picked up by San Francisco vice officers that same morning. Cretzer and Shockley were later implicated in the 1946 Blast-Out. September 1941 John R. Bayless Bank Robbery John Bayless kept to himself. One day when a fog drifted unexpectedly over the island, he saw his chance and sneaked to the water. The bay proved too cold for him and he foundered. Guards pulled him from the drink before hypothermia set in. A few months later, when Bayless was taken to the city to stand trial for his escape attempt, he tried to bolt from the courtroom. For his two attempts, he received an additional five year sentence. April 14, 1943 Kidnapping & Harboring Fugitive The mat shop hosted this hostage affair. The four cons grabbed a guard and Captain Weinhold as they made their rounds. They kicked out pre-cut bars in the mat shop, pushed a plank over the gap between the industrial building and the perimeter fence, and climbed over it to the water's edge.

As they entered the water, Captain Weinhold worked his gag loose and whistled for help. The tower guard spotted the escapees and open fired immediately. Brest was wounded and Boarman killed. A few hours later, searchers found Hunter in a tidal cave. Warden Johnston announced that Hamilton had also been slain (despite the lack of a body). Hamilton turned up several days later, having hid in same tidal cave where guards had found Hunter. August 1943 Ted Walters Bank Robbery Walters got himself assigned to work Saturdays in the laundry when the tower guards paid less attention to the island's industrial sector. He slipped from the laundry, climbed a fence, and fell onto his back, injuring his spine. He made his way to the water anyways, but could get nowhere with the injury. Guards fished him out and sent him to solitary. July 1945 John K. Giles Assault on a Postman Giles, a dock worker responsible for handling the war-time shipments of dirty Army uniforms to and from the Rock, collected several pieces of a Technical Sargeant uniform, dressed himself in it, and almost got to shore aboard the Army launch before his absence was noticed.

Giles came closer to succeeding than any other prisoner during the U.S. Penitentiary period. May 2, 1946 Miran Thompson Robbery & Kidnapping The bloodiest incident in Alcatraz's history pitted a detachment of combat savvy Marines and the Bureau of Prisons against three men armed with seventy-two rounds of ammunition and two guns. Two guards were killed, one (R.J. Miller) when Cretzer attempted to slay several captives and another (Harold Stites) when he stepped into the crossfire. The lives of D-Block inmates were jeopardized by intensive shelling. Coy, Hubbard, and Cretzer were finally cornered in a utility passage and either slain or driven to suicide. Writing on the wall of the cell where captured guards were kept pointed the finger at the men named here. Carnes alone was spared both informal and formal execution. July 23, 1956 Alan (Clayton) West Trans. Stolen Vehicle The attempt which inspired the Clint Eastwood film Escape from Alcatraz. The participants fashioned plaster heads with real hair swept up from the barber shop floor.

On the night they chose to leave, they left these heads in their beds and crept through the ventilators in their cells in the utility corridor. West could not fit through his hole and remained behind. From here, they wormed their way up to the roof. Prison authorities discovered that the men carved the holes with spoons stolen from the kitchen and an electric drill fashioned from a fan. There was also the usual question of whether these men made it to shore. The only trace ever found of them was a crudely-fashioned wallet filled with cash. Prisoners and romanticists continued to hope that Morris and the Anglins had made it. December 12, 1962 Alcatraz Federal Prison | Guts and Gore Contact us Alcatraz Federal Prison Located in San Francisco, California, Alcatraz prison is one of the world’s most notorious prisons. Built upon a rugged island terrain and surrounded by freezing water, it was deemed to be an ideal location for high security prison for the country’s most dangerous criminals. It quickly gained a darkened reputation of brutality and inhumane living conditions, and was eventually forced to shut down due to severe structural faults.

History of Alcatraz Federal Prison Alcatraz Island was reserved for military use in 1850 by President Millard Fillmore, and within several years a fortress was constructed on the rugged terrain. During the American Civil War, the U.S army began to hold military prisoners on the Island. As the entire complex was surrounded by cold, harsh waters, it was deemed impossible to escape from, and therefore ideal as a prison. The military prisoners being held in Alcatraz in the 1860’s included those accused of treason, Confederate sympathisers, and unruly American Indians. As the Spanish-American war broke out in the 1890’s, the population at Alcatraz substantially rose and the need for an expansion became prominent. Construction began in the early 20th century for a new cell-house (containing 600 cells), a small hospital, a mess hall, and several other buildings, and was mainly carried out by the prison inmates. It was in 1933 when the military handed Alcatraz Island over to the U.S Justice Department to be used as a high security federal prison. The Justice Department wanted a facility which could hold criminals deemed to be too dangerous for standard prisons.

Alterations were made, to ensure the levels of security were high enough to hold such dangerous prisoners,and the facility officially opened on 1 July 1934. James Johnston was hired as the prison warden, and the first batch of inmates arrived a month after the official open date. A total of 137 prisoners arrived at Alcatraz on 11 August, and consisted of bank robbers, counterfeiters, murderers and sodomites. It is also believed that 32 inmates were those already detained at the facility from when it was a military prison. There were 155 members of staff hired to work at the prison, none of whom were trained in rehabilitation, but rather security. The inmate population continued to rise, and by June 1935 the facility was holding 242 prisoners, but issues were beginning to arise. The metal detectors in Alcatraz often overheated, leaving officers no other choice but to turn them off for long intervals. After several failed attempts to correct the issue, Teletouch Corporation, the company who provided the equipment, were forced to have their contract terminated, and were charged over $200 for replacement metal detectors.

In January 1935, a severe storm cased a landslide to occur on the island, taking with it the Model Industries building. Many adaptations were made to the Alcatraz after this, including the construction of a rip-rap around the island to avoid further landslides, a guard tower, and adaptations to the barracks building to accommodate for families. By 1936, there were 56 families living on the island,including almost 130 women and children. Despite the additions and adaptations, problems continued to arise within the prison’s utility system, particularly within the older buildings. The following year, further updates were made to Alcatraz, including the installation of two new boilers, a new water sanitation pump and guard rails. Between 1939 and 1941, a further $1.1 million was spent on a further influx of additions and amendments The New Industries building was constructed, alongside a new water tower, new apartment blocks for the prison staff. The powerhouse on the island was installed with a new diesel engine, and D-block was converted into an isolation wing. For a while, the improvements appeared to be working.

Inside Alcatraz Administration – The focal point for administration at Alcatraz was located at the entrance of the prison, which also included the warden’s office. The administrative section included offices for the associate warden, a mail desk, the captain’s desk, a business office, an accounting office, an officer’s lounge, the armoury and a visitation centre. The control room was added in 1961 and fitted out with modern technology to provide additional security to the facility. Basement – The basement of Alcatraz contained the prison showers and a small set of dungeons, built by the U.S Military in the late 1800’s. The main entrance to the dungeons was a set of stairs which was situated along Sunrise Alley at the side of A-Block. However, there was a second entrance in the form of a trap door, which was positioned along the corridor of D-Block. Reports show that during 1912 – 1940 the old dungeons were used to hold the most dangerous criminals from the prison, as a form of punishment The old cells were damp and cold, with no lighting or air ventilation present.

Although inmates were never there for long periods of time, many were subjected to being thrown in the dungeons when they misbehaved. The Cell-house – The new cell-house was built in 1912 and cost a total of $250,00 to construct Upon completion, the building stood at 150 metres long, making it the longest concrete building in the world at that time. It was further modernised in 1933 and was then transformed into the main cell block for Alcatraz prisoners. The cell-house consisted of three-stories, split into four blocks: A-Block, B-Block, C-Block and D-Block. It also included the warden’s office, a visitation room, library and a barbershop. A-Block This section was never used by the federal prison as a permanent holding block, and was only ever used occasionally to hold those awaiting transfer. The block was never modernised, and so the original iron bars, key locks and spiral staircases of the military prison remained, albeit it in a deteriorated condition.

It once contained a law library, where inmates were able to read up on legal documents, and also the barbershop which was located at the back of the block. Eventually, the cell-block became a place to store materials from around the prison. B-Block The lower tier of B-Block (‘Fish Row’) was allocated to the new arrivals at Alcatraz, where they would stay in ‘quarantine status’ for a period of 90 days. During this time, the prisoners were kept in isolation, and were forbidden to have any visitors or contact with anyone on the outside world. The other two tiers of B-Block were used as the general population for the moderately behaved prisoners. In June 1962, Clarence and John Anglin and Frank Morris escaped from the prison by entering the utility corridor behind B-Block. C-Block C-Block was used as the main general population unit, containing three tiers of cells. Half of the cells faced North, and the other half facing South, with a utility corridor running between them to supply the cells with plumbing, circulation and electricity. Each cell was around 9 feel by 5 feet, and contained a bed, a sink, and a toilet.

Two cells at the end of C-Block were allocated as rest rooms for the prison guards. D-Block D-Block was reserved for the most dangerous inmates at Alcatraz, and contained 36 segregation cells and six solitary confinement cells. It quickly gained the reputation of a ‘treatment block’ and was notorious for the harsh punishments inflicted upon the inmates. In this cell block, prisoners were kept in solitary confinement for up to 19 days. They ate in their cells, were forbidden to work and were reduced down to two showers per week. Robert Stroud, the Birdman of Alcatraz, had one of the longest stays in D-Block, after spending six years in solitary confinement in cell 42. The worst part of D-Block was known as ‘The Hole’, and was located at the end of the block in cells 9- 14. These cells were reserved as a form of punishment for misbehaving inmates, and were kept at a colder temperature than the rest of the prison cells, and were completely devoid of light. Prisoners who were sent to ‘the hole’ were often stripped, beaten, starved, tortured and left to sleep on the cold concrete floor.

The cells in ‘the hole’ contained nothing but a sink and a toilet, and the prisoners often threw faeces at the prison officers whenever they were presented with the opportunity. Henri Young described his experience in ‘the hole’ at his trial in 1941: “Its size was approximately that of a regular cell-9 feet by 5 feet by about 7 feet high. I could just touch the ceiling by stretching out my arm… You are stripped nude and pushed into the cell. Guards take your clothes and go over them minutely or what few grains of tobacco may have fallen into the cuffs or pockets. There is no soap. No tobacco. No toothbrush, The smell – well you can describe it only by the word ‘stink.’ It is like stepping into a sewer. It is nauseating. After they have searched your clothing, they throw it at you. For bedding, you get two blankets, around 5 in the evening. You have no shoes, no bed, no mattress-nothing but the four damp walls and two blankets. The walls are painted black. Once a day I got three slices of bread-no-that is an error. Some days I got four slices.

I got one meal in five days, and nothing but bread in between. In the entire thirteen days I was there, I got two meals… I have seen but one man get a bath in solitary confinement, in all the time that I have been there. That man had a bucket of cold water thrown over him.” Corridors – The Cell-house in Alcatraz has a multitude of corridors which were named after major American landmarks and streets. The corridor to the side of A-Block was known as Michigan Avenue, the one in between blocks B and C was called Broadway. Times Square was the inmates meeting point near the dinning hall, and the corridor between C-Block and the library was Park Avenue. The corridor which ran through D-Block was known as the Sunset Strip. Dining Hall – The dining hall in Alcatraz was more commonly known as the Mess Hall, and it was the location where prisoners and staff alike ate their meals. Located on the west end of the main cell-house, it is connected to the corridor known as times square and is situated in the very centre of the island.

The dining procedure was well regimented at Alcatraz, with a whistle system set in place to command different cell blocks at a time to enter or depart the hall. Prisoners were sent to breakfast at 6:55am and their menu often consisted of dry cereals, steamed whole wheat, scrambled egg, milk, fruit, toast and butter. The dining hall was able to seat up to 250 people at in one interval, feeding prisoners and guards at the same time. The Recreation Yard – The yard was located opposite the dining hall facing the mainland, and was surrounded by a high wall and a fence. The guard tower lay to the west of the yard, to ensure the inmates could be watched at all times. The yard was used for the inmates recreational time on a Saturday and Sunday for a maximum of 5 hours, but was also banned as a punishment for the badly behaved prisoners. Prisoners were allowed to play a variety of games in the recreation yard, including baseball, softball and chess and were provided with the necessary items,such as gloves, bats and chess sets. Reputation From the very first day as a federal prison, Alcatraz gained a fearsome reputation.

It was known to hold America’s most dangerous criminals, and reports of brutality and violence soon leaked out into the public domain. Prisoners would tell their families tales of inhumane conditions within the walls of Alcatraz, describing the isolation and filth which would severely test their sanity. In 1939, the U.S Attorney General, Frank Murphy declared that “the whole institution is conductive to psychology that builds up a sinister ambitious attitude among prisoners.” Escape Attempts Alcatraz was said to be impossible to escape from, but this did not stop prisoners from trying. A total of 36 inmates tried to escape the prison during 14 separate attempts. Out of these 36, 23 men were caught, six were shot and killed, two drowned in the San Francisco Bay and five men are listed as ‘missing and presumed drowned.’ Joseph Bowers – The very first attempt to escape Alcatraz was on 27th April 1936 by Joseph Bowers. He was assigned the chore of burning rubbish at the prison incinerator, when he climbed the large chain link fence at the edge of the island. Officers in the guard tower spotted him immediately and ordered him to climb down.

After Bowers refused to return to the ground, the guards shot him and he fell to his death. There was much debate at the time as to whether this was a serious escape attempt, a suicide attempt, or an innocent attempt to feed seagulls. Fellow inmate Henry Larry reported seeing Bowers just before his escape attempt feeding seagulls. He claimed that he watched Bowers stack several empty barrels and climb up the fence to retrieve some food which had been caught on the fence. Other theories show that Bowers was not adapting to life in Alcatraz prison, and that his intention was to be killed from the fall, or from the shot of a prison guard. Other inmates deemed Bowers to be criminally insane, and his previous suicide attempts were largely known around the facility. He was not ever officially declared insane, and regardless of his motives, he was declared the first attempted escapee. Theodore Cole and Ralph Roe – The second escape attempt was in December 1937 by Theodore Cole and Ralph Roe. Whilst performing their work assignments in the workshop,the pair managed to cut through the flat iron bars of a window, climb through and escape the facility.

There was a severe storm that day, causing the surrounding waters of San Francisco Bay to become highly turbulent, and the pair were presumed drowned. Although their bodies were never found, it is presumed that their bodies were swept out in to the sea during the harsh storm.. The Battle of Alcatraz – The Battle of Alcatraz is known as the most violent escape attempt in Alcatraz. It began on the 2 May 1946 when six prisoners (Bernard Coy, Joseph Cretzer, Sam Shockley, Clarent Carnes,Marvin Hubbard and Miran Thompson) over powered the guards and took over control of the cell-block, and stole the keys to the recreation yard. Their plan was to escape by taking a boat from the island’s dock, but this failed when they failed to locate the key to the outside door. When the six inmates realised they weren’t going to get out, they took two guards hostage and eventually shot them at close range. Both prison officers died as a result. After this incident, three of the prisoners (Shockley, Thompson and Carnes) returned to their cells, leaving the remaining three to pursue their fight alone.

On the 4 May, the U.S Marines entered the facility and shot and killed the three armed inmates, Coy, Cretzer and Hubbard. Besides the two guards and three prisoners who were killed during the battle, a total of 17 other guards and one inmate were seriously injured. The three men who returned to their cells were tried for the murder of the two guards, William Miller and Harold Stites. Both Shockley and Thompson were sentenced to death via gas chamber, which was carried out at San Quentin in 1948. As Carnes was only 19 years of age at the time of the battle, he was not given the death penalty, but handed another life sentence. Three Missing, Presumed Drowned – In June 1962, Frank Morris, and John and Clarence Anglin executed one of the most famous escapes from prison of all time. The inmates gradually chiselled away at a unguarded utility corridor behind B-Block. Using tools such as spoons, coins and even a makeshift electric drill, the prisoners were able to dig their way through the eroding walls and into the fan vent, using fake walls to hide their work.

The three prisoners removed the fans and motor in the vent, and replaced them with a steel grill with a shaft large enough for a person to fit through. During this elaborate escape attempt, the prisoners had made an inflatable raft out of stolen raincoats they mad managed to procure, which had been made on the top of the cell block, and concealed by sheets. On the night of the escape, the prisoners placed papier-mâché dummies in their beds, to fool the guards into thinking they were still in their cells, and headed though their self-dug tunnel. Allen West was meant to be the fourth member of the group, but when the escape was brought forward, he had problems with his fake wall and his escape was delayed. By the time he had managed to crawl out of the air vent, the other prisoners had already gone. The prisoners were never found, but the FBI determined that it was doubtful the three escapees would have survived the harsh waters of the bay, or the freezing temperature which lingered that night. Despite this, there have been claims of an illegal boat spotted in the bay the night of the escape, and that a vehicle was stolen by three men on the mainland. Alcatraz Wardens James A.

Johnson Term: 1934 – 1948. James Johnson was the first warden to be hired at Alcatraz. He was the previous warden at both Folsom and San Quentin, and was a played a crucial role in the development of turning Alcatraz into a Federal Prison. During his career, he was known as a strict disciplinarian who imposed strict regimes upon the inmates, such as time in silence, solitary confinement and even straight jackets. Despite his strict rules and conduct, Johnson was liked and respected by both the guards at Alcatraz and the majority of the inmates, and earned himself the nickname“Old Saltwater.” Edwin B. Swope Term: 1948 – 1955. Edwin Swope was the second warden to be placed at Alcatraz. He had previously been the warden at New Mexico State Prison and the Washington State McNeil Island, and was also a member of the Demographic Party. Just like his predecessor, Swope was a strict disciplinarian, but he also make several attempts to reform the prisoners, instead of simply disciplining the.

He introduced painting sessions into the daily regime, alongside a prisoner’s orchestra and movie showings every other weekend. Despite his changes, Swope is considered to be the most unpopular warden at Alcatraz, gaining approval from neither his guards nor his inmates. Paul J. Madigan Term: 1955 – 1961. Paul Madigan was the third warden at Alcatraz, and the only one to have worked his way up through the prison hierarchical structure. Once a correctional officer on the island, Madigan had gained a promotion to the Associate Warden when James Johnston was in charge. When finally appointed warden in 1955, Madigan brought a softer approach to the prisoners than his previous predecessors, and was well liked among the staff an prisoners alike. Olin G. Blackwell Term: 1961- 1963. Olin Blackwell was the fourth and final warden to be hired at Alcatraz prison. Before his position as warden, Blackwell was the Associate Warden to Paul Madigan, and was promoted in 1961.

He served as warden at the most strenuous time sin the history of the prison, and faced major issues with the deterioration of the building and financial troubles. The Decline and End of Alcatraz Although the prison regimes were improving, and ideas of reform were surfacing at Alcatraz, it began facing extremely negative responses from the 1950’s onwards. The Federal Bureau of Prisons (FBOP) declared it to be the most expensive penal institution in the country, and in 1952, the Director called for a more centralized prison to replace Alcatraz. The major flaw with Alcatraz was the core structure of the building, and its vulnerability to the salty air and winds of the San Francisco Bay. Millions of dollars had been spent since its opening on attempting to protect the building from the elements, but it was estimated in the 1950’s that a further $5 million would be needed to repair the facility. These repairs began in 1958, but two years into the operation, the building was declared to be a lost cause by engineers.

The 1962 escape attempt added to the already negative reputation of the prison, and demonstrated its inability to provide the levels of security it was built for. The structural problems combined with the escape attempt proved too much for the prison, and it was officially closed on 21 March 1963. Modern Alcatraz The island was declared as a national recreation area in 1972, and received designation as a National Historic Landmark in 1986. The facility is now a museum, managed by the National Park Service and is open to the public. Visitors can take a short ferry ride to the island from Pier 39 at Fisherman’s Wharf in San Francisco,and are able to tour the old Cell-block. Many visitors have described a dark and ‘eerie’ sensation as they walk past the corridors, yet it remains one of the city’s major tourist attractions. The old prison attracts up to 1.5 million visitors per year, and work continues to be done on keeping the buildings maintained and protected against the harsh surrounding weather.

Notable Inmates Alphonse “Al” Gabriel Capone – Al Capone was an American gangster who was sent to federal prison for tax evasion in 1931, and resided in Alcatraz from 1934– 1939. It is believed by many that Capone was responsible for ordering the 1929 Saint Valentine’s Day Massacre in the Lincoln Park neighbourhood on the North side of Chicago. These claims have been widely disputed, and no one has ever been taken to trial for the seven murders. Robert Franklin Stroud (“Birdman of Alcatraz”) – In 1909,Stroud shot and killed a barman and a prostitute, and was sentenced to 12 years of incarceration at McNeil Island. During his time there, he became known as a dangerous criminal, confronting both prison guards and inmates. In 1916, he stabbed a prison officer to death, and was given a death sentence for the crime. He was sent to Leavenworth Prison in Kansas, where he found a net with three injured sparrows inside.

This began his collection of birds, and after several years he had a collection of over 300 canaries, which earned him his nickname. During his years at Leavenworth, Stroud reared and sold many birds, and became a well respected ornithologist after years of study. His business was stopped when he was found to be using his equipment to manufacture alcohol in his cell, and in 1942he was transferred to Alcatraz, where (despite his nickname) he was not permitted to keep birds. Alvin Francis Karpavicz (“Creepy Karpis”) – Karpis was a Depression-era gangster nicknamed”Creepy” for his sinister smile. He was a Canadian born criminal of Lithuanian descent known for being one of the three leaders of the Barker-Karpis gang in the 1930s. He was the last “Public Enemy #1” to be taken. He also spent the longest time as a federal prisoner in Alcatraz Prison, serving twenty-six years after being sent there in 1936. George Barnes (“Machine Gun Kelly”) – Barnes was an American gangster known as Machine Gun Kelly because of his favourite weapon, a Thompson sub machine gun.

In July 1933,he kidnapped the oil tycoon Charles Urschel and collected a $200,000 ransom fee. Barnes and his gang left behind considerable evidence, and the FBI were able to locate Kelly which led to his arrest in September 1933. He was sent to Alcatraz in 1934, where he remained until 1951. Roy Gardener – Known as the most ruthless inmate in Alcatraz, Gardener was a celebrated outlaw and American bank robber. He stole over $350,000 throughout his robbing career, and renowned as ‘The King of the Escape Artists.’ He was the ‘most wanted’ gangster of 1921. General Knowledge Quiz - By Zarbo84 The fictional character John Clayton is better known by what name? La Paz is the administrative capital of which South American country? Actor Charles Buchinsky was better known by what name? The medical condition ‘aphonia’ is the inability to do what? In Greek mythology, Pygmalion was the king of which Island? Who played the title role in the 1953 film ‘The Glenn Miller Story’?

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Question Famous Inmates at Alcatraz | List of Notable Prisoners of Alcatraz Federal Penitentiary Famous Inmates at Alcatraz By treadLightly 62k views 31 items tags f t p @ List Criteria: Only notable prisoners at Alcatraz Federal Penitentiary List of Famous Inmates at Alcatraz ranked by fame and notoriety. Alcatraz Federal Penitentiary is a prison located on Alcatraz Island off the coast of San Francisco. Alcatraz operated from 1934 through 1963 and during that time they had several famous prisoners. Alcatraz had 36 inmates make escape attempts, none of which were successful. Who is the most famous inmate at Alcatraz? Notorious gangster Al Capone tops our list. Capone spent four and a half years at Alcatraz and he continued to run his illegal operations behind bars by buying off the prison guards. Mafia man Mickey Cohen also spent time at Alcatraz and became partially paralyzed by another inmate who beat him with a pipe. Frank Lee Morris was an Alcatraz inmate who attempted to escape in 1962.

He escaped along with brothers John and Clarence Anglin and was never seen again. Authorities presume that Morris died in the attempt. Another famous Alcatraz inmate Ellsworth “Bumpy” Johnson, the American mob boss and bookmaker, claims that he arranged for a boat to pick up the escapees, but authorities dismissed his comments as an attempt to receive a plea deal. What do you think about Alcatraz Federal Penitentiary? Share your thoughts in the comments section. List Photo: user uploaded image Z Photo: uploaded by treadLightly Probably the most famous Alcatraz inmate, Capone was one of the most ruthless gang bosses of the early 20th century who was finally arrested on charges of tax evasion. He was moved to Alcatraz in 1934 , but by that time syphilis was eroding his brain at an alarming rate. Photo: Freebase / GNU Free Documentation License After working for various crime lords across the country, Mickey Cohen returned to his home in California where he helped set up various gambling operations and became known as one of the most men on the sunset strip.

In 1961 Cohen was convicted of tax evasion for the second time and he sent to Alcatraz where he became the only inmate to ever be bailed out of The Rock. Frank Morris Photo: Freebase /Public domain Frank Morris was a life long criminal who was one of the only men to escape from Alcatraz. Along with his co-conspirators, he constructed fake heads, and dug a tunnel to the outside where they escaped using a rudimentary life raft. To this day no one knows his whereabouts . Clarence Carnes Photo: Freebase /Fair use Known as The Chocktaw Kid, Carnes was the youngest inmate sentenced to Alcatraz . In 1945, he and five other inmates participated in a failed attempt to escape from Alcatraz which turned into the bloody "Battle of Alcatraz" where three inmates and two prison officers died. After the attempt he was tried for murder along with the two other survivors and found guilty for participating in the plot. Joseph Paul Cretzer Photo: Freebase /Public domain Cretzer was a bank robber who tried to escape from Alcatraz on three separate occasions.

His final attempt was during the Battle of Alcatraz where, when he found himself trapped in a corridor with a group of guards and was either slain in the crossfire or committed suicide . Sam Shockley Photo: Freebase /Public domain Shockley was one of the Alcatraz inmates who took part in the Battle of Alcatraz in 1946. The multi inmate escape attempt failed due to the jamming of the recreation yard door and turned into an armed confrontation which lasted two days . Shockley was found guilty at his subsequent trial and executed in the San Quentin gas chamber in 1948. Escapes from Alcatraz | Prisoners of Alcatraz | Anglin Brothers We respect your email privacy Escapes from Alcatraz Infamous Escape Attempts from the "Inescapable" Island Discover details on the escapes from Alcatraz including the infamous Frank Lee Morris and Anglin brothers attempt in 1962. In the 29 years the prison was open, there were 14 escape attempts. Those attempts included 36 prisoners and none were considered successful (although one person made it alive to San Francisco during the final attempt - but was immediately caught and returned to the island).

Two of the prisoners drowned in the bay. Six of the prisoners were shot during their attempts. Twenty three were captured and returned to their cells. Five of the prisoners were never found. For years, prison officials stated those five must have drowned, since no one ever heard from them again. However, new evidence was recently recovered on the infamous 1962 escape attempt - read on to learn more! Who was the first person to try to escape? The first attempt of the escapes from Alcatraz was on April of 1936. Joseph Bowers, inmate number 210 attempted to escape on his own. As he was climbing a fence, he was shot and killed by the guards. Battle of Alcatraz One of the most famous attempts was named the Battle of Alcatraz. It was also known as the Alcatraz Blastout. It was one of the bloodiest escape attempts in the island's history. On May 2, 1946, a group of six prisoners tried to take control of the main building. The prisoners were able to overpower the guards to take control. The battle lasted for two days.

This is one of the escapes from Alcatraz where two officers were killed and several others were wounded. Three of the six prisoners that attempted to escape were also killed in the battle. Reinforcements finally came in and took back control on May 4. The remaining three prisoners went on trial for the murders during the Battle of Alcatraz. Another Famous Escape Attempt: Frank Lee Morris and the Anglin Brothers The attempt by Frank Lee Morris, Alan West and John and Clarence Anglin was another famous event by daring inmates. This was one of the most thought out and sophisticated attempts in the prison's history. Frank Lee Morris was the mastermind behind the plan. For seven months, the four inmates worked together to plan their escape. Shortly before their planning began, officials decided to make the dining experience more intimate for the prisoners. Instead of long tables, they created tables of four. These four sat together every day, which gave them plenty of non-monitored time to plan their escape. All four inmates prepared for their attempt by digging holes through the vent in their cells. The holes they created linked through to the ventilation ducts which they planned to use to get out of the main building.

This is one of the escapes from Alcatraz where they prepared for the attempt by creating rafts and dummy heads for their beds. The dummy heads made it look like someone was sleeping and allowed them more time for their escape. One of the best ways to learn more about this attempt is on Alcatraz. One of the park rangers is currently studying the case. After quite a bit of research, he got in touch with one of the Anglin sisters. He presents the current status of the case a few days a week during the day tours. The photo above is from my recent visit when he gave his talk. One evening, after 9pm in June 1962, the four inmates attempted their escape. They all placed their fake dummy heads in their beds, opened the covers to the vents, climbed through the ducts and outside of the main building. Alan West had trouble getting his cover off his vent, so they left him. He ended up getting it off hours after the others, climbed through the vents and realized he was too late to escape with the other three. He then returned to his cell undetected. How did the guards not notice they were missing?

Each one placed a decoy head in their bed with real hair one of them stole over time from their work in the barber shop on the island. Due to the decoy heads, the guards didn't notice the missing prisoners of Alcatraz until after 7am the next morning. This gave them plenty of time to get away. Once the guards noticed they were missing, the prison went into lock down. A massive search for the missing prisoners of Alcatraz followed. The three prisoners were never seen or heard from again. Most of the evidence found led the authorities - at the time - to determine that all three drown in the San Francisco bay during the escape attempt. New evidence is surfacing every day on this case. Did they really drown or did they make it? Some believe that they did make it. National Geographic recently did a documentary on the incident with the new federal marshal assigned to the case. His investigation, including newly discovered information, will make you think twice about whether they made it or not. The documentary is called Vanished from Alcatraz . If you are fascinated by this story, you will LOVE this documentary. How old would they be if they were found alive today?

Frank Lee Morris would be almost 85 and the Anglin brothers would be in their early 80s. Additional Resources The movie Escape from Alcatraz was based on this attempt. Clint Eastwood played the part of Frank Lee Morris. You can find out even more about these escape attempts and others in these books and movies . In addition to the one listed above, another one of my favorites on the topic is the Escape from Alcatraz book by J. Campbell Bruce. Discover Even More Information You Might Enjoy

Question: In 1936, Joseph Bowers was the first inmate to attempt an escape from which prison?
Answer: Alcatraz